Broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of drugs-of-abuse and the use of principal component analysis

EPSRC, the European Community IST FP6 Integrated, etc

Two-component model for the interstellar scattering in direction to the Vela pulsar

This paper discusses a rigorous treatment of the refractive scintillation of pulsar PSR B0833-45 caused by a two-component interstellar scattering medium. It is assumed that the interstellar scattering medium is composed of a thin screen ISM and an extended interstellar medium. We consider that the scattering of the thin screen concentrates in a thin layer presented by a delta function distribution and that the scattering density of the extended irregular medium satisfies the Gaussian distribution. We investigate and develop equations for the flux density structure function corresponding to this two-component ISM geometry in the scattering density distribution and compare our result with that of the Vela pulsar observations. We conclude that the refractive scintillation caused by this two-component ISM scattering gives a more satisfactory explanation for the observed flux density variation of the Vela pulsar than does the single extended medium model. The level of refractive scintillation is strongly sensitive to the distribution of scattering material along the line of sight. The logarithmic slope of the structure function is sensitive to thin screen location and is relatively insensitive to the scattering strength of the thin screen medium. Therefore, the proposed model can be applied to interpret the structure function of flux density observed in pulsar PSR B0833-45. The result suggests that the medium consists of a discontinuous distribution of plasma turbulence embedded in the Vela supernova remnant. Thus our work provides some insight into the distribution of the scattering along the line of sight to the Vela pulsar.

何首乌炮制前后生物活性和化学成分的变化研究

何首乌为常用中药，由何首乌及含何首乌的中成药制剂所引起的不良反应也时见报道，科学阐明不良反应的物质基础并提出解决方案对何首乌的使用十分重要。本论文研究了何首乌炮制前后KM小鼠肝脏毒性基因表达谱、生物活性及化学成分的变化。所获结果支持何首乌炮制的目的是减毒、改性（改变药效），何首乌生、熟异治的观点。制首乌对抑郁症的效果显著优于生首乌，这与本草所记载的何首乌炮制后补肝肾、益精血，归肝、肾经一致。 主要结果如下： 1、 生、制首乌的毒理基因芯片研究结果 何首乌的不良反应主要表现在肝损害方面。本研究建立了生何首乌和制何首乌不同剂量的肝毒性作用模型，体重指标统计发现生何首乌各剂量组平均体重显著下降，中剂量组（10 g/kg.d）体重下降20 %，高剂量组（20 g/kg.d）体重下降42%，50%动物死亡，提示动物机体能量代谢障碍；基因芯片研究结果表明何首乌是CYP450的抑制剂，生何首乌相对于制何首乌CYP3A4、CYP4A5显著下调，导致毒性成分在体内的吸收增加，服用大剂量的生何首乌后产生明显的肝毒性；主要对以下六条Pathway产生影响：①PPAR signaling pathway，主要毒性靶基因有RXRB CYP7a1、Acadl、Apoa2、Cyp4a、 FABP2 、MAPKKK5等基因。②Calcium signaling pathway，主要毒性靶基因有CAMK2B、CACNA1F、S100A1、 F2R、Ryr1、Slc8a2、Camk4 ③Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction，主要毒性靶基因有Chrm4、 Ntsr2 、 GABRR1、 GRIK3、F2R等基因。④Wnt signaling pathway，主要毒性靶基因有Daam2、Rac1 等基因。⑤Complement and coagulation cascades，主要毒性靶基因有F2R、Serpina1b、Cfi 、FGA等基因。⑥Oxidative hosphorylation，主要毒性靶基因有Atp5e、NDUFA1等基因。生何首乌毒性明显强于制首乌，且生何首乌水煎液的毒性大于生何乌首丙酮提取物的毒性，这一结果表明，何首乌主要的毒性成分很可能并不仅仅是传统所认为的以大黄素为代表的蒽醌类化合物，而是何首乌中大量存在的有效组分二苯乙烯苷与大黄素相互作用的结果，这一研究结果与前述的何首乌对肝药酶的影响是一致的。后续生、制首乌的化学成分差异研究表明，炮制后二苯乙烯苷含量明显降低：生首乌为5.512 %、清蒸制首乌为3.811 %、豆制首乌为3.538 %,大黄素的含量炮制后显著升高,生首乌为0.094 %、清蒸制首乌为0.119 %、豆制首乌为0.126 %。 2 生、制首乌药效差异研究结果 本文采用慢性中等强度不可预知应激刺激模型(chronic unpredictable mild stress, CUMS)和动物行为绝望实验法，研究生、制首乌抗抑郁活性的差异，制首乌（5 g/kg.d）与模型组相比有显著差异（P< 0.01），生首乌制首乌（5g/kg.d）与模型组相比无显著差异，这一结果表明制首乌抗抑郁活性显著优于生首乌。 本文比较了生、制首乌对四氧嘧啶糖尿病模型小鼠血糖的影响的差异，生首乌（5 g/kg.d）与模型组相比有显著差异（P< 0.01），制首乌（5 g/kg.d）与模型组相比无显著差异，这一结果表明生首乌降糖活性优于制首乌。这一结果与历代中医古书中生首乌治疗消渴症（糖尿病）的记载一致。 3生、制首乌化学成分差异的研究结果 本文选用HPLC-DAD指纹图谱技术结合药效成分含量测定来研究生、制首乌化学成分的差异。炮制后，何首乌中的主要化学成分并未消失，只是其含量发生了改变。炮制后二苯乙烯苷含量明显降低：生首乌为5.512 %、清蒸制首乌为3.811 %、豆制首乌为3.538 %,大黄素的含量炮制后显著升高,生首乌为0.094 %、清蒸制首乌为0.119 %、豆制首乌为0.126 %。 综上所述，炮制前后何首乌中二苯乙烯苷和大黄素含量比的变化可能是何首乌炮制减毒、改性的物质基础。 根据上述结果我们建立了生、制首乌的质量控制新模式。 In recent years, some adverse drug reactions (ADR) about some traditional Chinese medicine were reported at times. As a Chinese medicine most in use, the ADRs of Radix Polygoni multiflori (RPM) and the medicines containing the RPM were also mentioned. The resolution of the problems caused by the ADRs is very important for the use of the RPM as a medicine. The process (or preparation) is a significant feature for the clinical use of the Chinese medicine and an important technology for the safe use and good effect of the Chinese medicine. By processing, the toxicity of the Chinese medicine can be reduced, its properties can be changed and curative effect can be enhanced at the same time. The changes of the gene expression profiles for KM mice hepatotoxic effects, and the change of the biological activity and the chemical composition after being processed of the RPm were studied in the present dissertation. The RPm heatotoxicity mechanism and the toxicity target genes were explained on the gene level for the first time. With the antidepressant activity, and the hypoglycemic effect as the target, the differences on the pharmacodynamics between the processed RPm and unprocessed RPm, for the first time, were investigated. The results obtained show that the antidepressant activity of the processed RPM is far higher than the ones of unprocessed RPm. As we know, the results were reported for the first time. The quality control systems (QCS) for the processed and the unprocessed RPm were founded. The HPLC-DAD was used in the systems founded on the basis of the toxicology and the pharmacodynamics experiments. As we know, the OCSs were reported for the first time. The above-mentioned experimental results confirm that the unique process theory of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for the process of the Radix Polygoni multiflori (RPm) is correct, i.e after being processed the toxicity of the RPm decreases and its Pharmacodynamic effects change. It is known to author that there have been no similar reports in the literatures up to now. The main experimental results are summarized as follows: 1 The results on the mice toxicology gene chip for the unprocessed and processed RPm The KM mice hepatotoxic model caused by the RPm at the different dosages was established in the present study. The results obtained show that the mouse average body weight obviously decreased in the groups at the different dosages of the unprocessed RPm: the 10 g/kg.d .group decreased 20%; 20 g/kg.d. group decreased 42%, and 50% mice died at 20 g/kg.d. group. The main experimental results on the mice toxicology gene chip The RPm is the CYP450 inhibitor. As compared with the processd RPm, the CYP3A4, CYP4A5 of the unprocessed RPm demonstrate the marked downregulation, which leads to the increase of the poison absorbtion into the body with the result that the unprocessed RPm yields the marked hepatotoxication. The hepatotoxication was produced because the following 6 pathways were affected: ①PPAR signaling pathway, the chief toxicity target genes are RXRB, CYP7a1, Acadl, Apoa2, Cyp4a, FABP2 and MAPKKK5 etc. ②Calcium signaling pathway, the chief toxicity target genes are CAMK2B, CACNA1F, S100A1, F2R, Ryr1,Slc8a2 and Camk4 etc. ③Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, the chief toxicity target genes are Chrm4, Ntsr2, GABRR1, GRIK3 and F2R etc. ④Wnt signaling pathway, the chief toxicity target genes are Daam2, Rac1 etc. ⑤Complement and coagulation cascades, the chief toxicity target genes are F2R, Serpina1b, Cfi and FGA etc. ⑥Oxidative phosphorylation, the chief toxicity target genes are Atp5e, NDUFA1 etc. The above experimental results, for the first time , demonstrate on the gene level that the unprocessed Rpm toxicity is far stronger than the processed RPm one, and the toxicity of the water decoction of the unprocessed RPm is greater than the one of its acetone extracts, which shows that the chief toxicity components of the RPm are probably not only the anthraquinones, for example, the emodin, but the complex compounds produced by the interaction between the emondin and the stilbene glucoside which is the largest component of the unprocessed RPm. The result is accordance with the above effect of the RPm on the hepatic drugenzyme. Aftter being processed, in fact, the content of the stibene glucoside in the RPm markedly decreases. 2. The results on the pharmacodynamic differences between the unprocessed and processed RPm The results obtained show that the effects of processing on RPm pharmacodynamic behaviour received in the Chinese Material Medica are correct. It is known to author that this is the first experimental result in the research materials now available. The chief results are as follows: For the treatment of the antidepressant, the curative effect of the processed RPm is far better than the one of the unprocessed RPm. By contrast with the above results, the hypoblycemic effect of the unprocessed RPm is better than the one of the processed RPm. 3. The results on the Chemical Composition The results obtained by using HPLC-DAD fingerprint and by the determination of effective component content show that the main chemical components in the RPm after being processed do not disappear, but their contents change. The contents of the stilbene glucoside (SG) and emodin in the different samples were determined as follows: SG contents 5.512 % for the unprocessed RPm 3.811 % for the processed RPm (Steamed) 3.588 % for the processed RPm (black soybean) Emodin contents 0.094 % for the unprocessed RPm 0.119 % for the processed RPm (Steamed) 0.126 % for the processed RPm (black soybean) The combination of above experimental results on the toxicity, the pharmacodynamics and the chemical composition indicates that the changes of the content ratio of SG/emodin may be the substance base of the toxicity decrease and pharmacodynamic changes of the RPM by the processing.

多分量对偶超导理论和口袋模型；Multi-component Dual Superconductor Theory and Bag Model

基于联络新参数化方案研究了多分量对偶超导模型。给出了多分量Ginzburg-Landau模型中的自对偶解,并研究了磁通量子数趋于无穷大时的墙涡旋解,以及与口袋模型之间的联系。

On Combining Morphological Component Analysis and Concentric Morphology Model for Mammographic Mass Detection

Mammographic mass detection is an important task for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. However, it is difficult to distinguish masses from normal regions because of their abundant morphological characteristics and ambiguous margins. To improve the mass detection performance, it is essential to effectively preprocess mammogram to preserve both the intensity distribution and morphological characteristics of regions. In this paper, morphological component analysis is first introduced to decompose a mammogram into a piecewise-smooth component and a texture component. The former is utilized in our detection scheme as it effectively suppresses both structural noises and effects of blood vessels. Then, we propose two novel concentric layer criteria to detect different types of suspicious regions in a mammogram. The combination is evaluated based on the Digital Database for Screening Mammography, where 100 malignant cases and 50 benign cases are utilized. The sensitivity of the proposed scheme is 99% in malignant, 88% in benign, and 95.3% in all types of cases. The results show that the proposed detection scheme achieves satisfactory detection performance and preferable compromises between sensitivity and false positive rates.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel two-component organogelator based on ion-bonded discotic complex

A novel ion-bonded discotic complex was prepared from 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexakis(N,N-dimethylaminopropylaminocarbonylmethoxy)triphenylene (HDTP) and 4'-dodecyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (DBC) by ionic self-assembly (ISA) route and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum. We found that the complex can self-assemble into stable gels in aromatic hydrocarbons. Nanofibers with diameters of 50-130 nm were observed in the gels by transmission electron micrograph (TEM).

Alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide by single-component cobalt salen complexes with various axial group

A series of single-component cobalt salen complexes, N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2phenylenediamino cobaltIII X(X = Cl (1a), Br (1b), NO3 (1c), CF3COO (1d), BF4 (le), and N3 (If)) (SalphCoX), were prepared for alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide(PO) under mild condition. The axial anion X group of the SalenphCoX played important role in tailoring the catalytic activity, polymeric/cyclic carbonate selectivity, as well as stereochemistry of carbonate unit sequence in the polymer chain. SalenphCoX with an electron-withdrawing axial X group (complex 1c) was an ideal catalyst for the copolymerization of CO2 and PO to selectively produce polycarbonate with similar to 99% carbonate linkage and over 81% head-to-tail structure.

Quantifying intrinsic specificity: A potential complement to affinity in drug screening

We report here the investigation of a novel description of specificity in protein-ligand binding based on energy landscape theory. We define a new term, intrinsic specificity ratio (ISR), which describes the level of discrimination in binding free energies of the native basin for a protein-ligand complex from the weaker binding states of the same ligand. We discuss the relationship between the intrinsic specificity we defined here and the conventional definition of specificity. In a docking study of molecules with the enzyme COX-2, we demonstrate a statistical correspondence between ISR value and geometrical shapes of the small molecules binding to COX-2. We further observe that the known selective (nonselective) inhibitors of COX-2 have higher (lower) ISR values. We suggest that intrinsic specificity ratio may be a useful new criterion and a complement to affinity in drug screening and in searching for potential drug lead compounds.

Solution-processible multi-component cyclometalated iridium phosphors for high-efficiency orange-emitting OLEDs and their potential use as white light sources

The synthesis and photophysical studies of several multifunctional phosphorescent iridium(III) cyclometalated complexes consisting of the hole-transporting carbazole and fluorene-based 2-phenylpyridine moieties are reported. All of them are isolated as thermally and morphological stable amorphous solids. Extension of the pi-conjugation through incorporation of electron- pushing carbazole units to the fluorene fragment leads to bathochromic shifts in the emission profile, increases the highest oc- cupied molecular orbital levels and improves the charge balance in the resulting complexes because of the propensity of the carbazole unit to facilitate hole transport. These iridium-based triplet emitters give a strong orange phosphorescence light at room temperature with relatively short lifetimes in the solution phase. The photo- and electroluminescence properties of these phosphorescent carbazolylfluorene-functionalized metalated complexes have been studied in terms of the coordinating position of carbazole to the fluorene unit. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using these complexes as the solution-processed emissive layers have been fabricated which show very high efficiencies even without the need for the typical hole-transporting layer.I These orange-emitting devices can produce a maximum current efficiency of similar to 30 cd A(-1) corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of similar to 10 % ph/el (photons per electron) and a power efficiency of similar to 14 Im W-1.

Self-immobilized catalysts for ethylene polymerization: neutral, single-component salicylaldiminato phenyl nickel(II) complexes bearing allyl substituents

A new family of self-immobilized ethylene polymerization catalysts, derived from neutral, single-component salicylaldiminato phenyl nickel complexes, is described.

Enhanced surface plasmon resonance immunoassay for human complement factor 4

Using an enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor, we have determined the concentration of human complement factor 4 (C4). Antibody protein was concentrated into a carboxymethyldextran-modified gold surface by electrostatic attraction force and a simultaneous covalent immobilization of antibody based on amine coupling reaction took place. The sandwich method was applied to enhance the response signal and the specificity of antigen binding assay. The antibody immobilized surface had good response to C4 in the range of 0.02-20 mug/ml by this enhanced immunoassay. The regeneration effect by pH 2 glycine-HC1 buffer was also investigated. The same antibody immobilized surface could be used more than 80 cycles of C4 binding and regeneration. In addition, the ability to determinate C4 directly from serum sample without any purification was investigated. The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the enhanced immunoassay are satisfactory. The results clearly demonstrate the advantages of the enhanced SPR technique for C4 immunoassay.